Waiting for Godot Theme of Truth

Waiting for Godot is a play driven by a lack of truth – in other words, uncertainty. Characters are unable to act in any meaningful way and claim this is so because they are uncertain of the consequences. Without the presence of objective truth, every statement is brought to question, and even common labels (color, time, names) become arbitrary and subjective.

Questions About Truth

After the debate over whether or not to attempt suicide, Estragon concludes in Act I, "Don’t let’s do anything. It’s safer." Is doing nothing safer?

Vladimir and Estragon are constantly faced with uncertainty of consequence, and as such choose not to choose. But what is the consequence of not choosing in this play? Can we even be certain of this?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

In Waiting for Godot, Beckett espouses the Existentialist tenet that the world is without meaning, but disagrees with the belief that one can give the world meaning and purpose through action.